Rupp’s first hat trick leads Penguins to 5-2 win

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Michael Rupp scored three goals and Sidney Crosby added two goals and an assist as the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the New York Rangers 5-2 Monday night at Madison Square Garden to sweep the home and home series with the Rangers.

Rupp was a presence all game, scoring his first hat trick of his career and has a career best eight goals this season. “It feels good that it {hat trick} comes in a win,” Rupp said. Rupp’s play through the first 28 games has led to an increased role and Rupp took advantage of the opportunity to play with Jordan Staal and Tyler Kennedy as Matt Cooke served the first game of his two game suspension.

Rupp has also filled the role of a leader in the Penguins locker room. Penguins General Manager Ray Shero has shown a strong emphasis since last years trade deadline in adding players to his squad with Stanley Cup experience on their resume.

Marc Andre Fleury stopped 29 of 31 shots to win his fifth straight game. Pittsburgh is 3-0 against the Rangers this season and won for the first time at MSG since 2007.

Marian Gaborik (20, 21) scored the Rangers only goals. Gaborik has five multi-goal games on the season.

Pittsburgh improved to 19-9 on the season.

Post-Game Wrap up

*Michael Rupp is tied with Evgeni Malkin for second on the team with eight goals. Rupp was evaluated after the game, after playing through a left knee injury he suffered in the second period. He is expected to be okay.

*Sidney Crosby scored goals 16, 17 and has 16 points in his last 10 games, including 8 points in his last two games.

Pittsburgh’s ability to halt the oppositions momentum can’t be overlooked. The Rangers jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second period and eleven seconds later Sidney Crosby scored to tie the game at 1-1.

*Alex Goligoski did not travel with the Penguins to New York after suffering a groin injury Saturday night. The injury is not related to his previous knee injury.

Team officials don’t expect Goligoski to be available Thursday night.

Jay McKee returned to the lineup but had just under 13 minutes of ice time. McKee had 3 blocked shots, while Sergei Gonchar led the Penguins with 4 blocked shots.

*Lost in the Penguins winning streak is the struggles of Ruslan Fedotenko. Fedotenko was held without a point for the ninth time in 11 games Monday night. He has six shots on goal in his last five games.

*Fedotenko has 4 goals and 6 assists on the season and is on pace for a 12 goal season. Not the kind of production, Fedotenko was expecting. His agent Allan Walsh, predicted a 25+ goal season.

Up to eight teams had scouts in attendance, including the St. Louis Blues and Tampa Bay Lightning.

There’s been a lot of trade speculation surrounding the Rangers who need to get Marian Gaborik some help. Talk about a special player who has never played with an elite center.

The Rangers are paying Chris Drury like one but he’s nothing more than a third line center.